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Better Call Saul' Will Take Place Before, During and After 'Breaking Bad

One of the great things about having a time line which is flexible is that perhaps some of it takes place before 'Breaking Bad,' during 'Breaking Bad,' and after 'Breaking Bad.' That gives us the ability to bring back characters that were killed on 'Breaking Bad'.

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Peter Gould, executive producer of AMC's "Breaking Bad" spinoff Better Call Saul, told the New York Daily News that the spinoff will jump between decades and may even include scenes that take place during the "Breaking Bad" timeline. This means that there's a chance Bryan Cranston will reprise his three-time Emmy-winning role as school teacher-turned-meth kingpin Walter White.

"One of the great things about having a timeline which is flexible is that perhaps some of it takes place before 'Breaking Bad,' during 'Breaking Bad,' and after 'Breaking Bad'," Gould told The New York Daily News. "That gives us the ability to bring back characters that were killed on 'Breaking Bad.'"

The spinoff, however, will not be dependent on guest appearances from Breaking Bad alums. Gould insisted that he and the rest of the Better Call Saul team wanted to "make a show that stands on it own, is its own story, and is a brand extension."

"We think we have a story that is worth making," said Gould. "We could never dream of the kind of success that Breaking Bad had, and the love we got from the fans. But [with Saul] at a certain point you have to do the best job you can and tell the best story that entertains you, get a good response and hope people like it."

The "Breaking Bad" spin-off will reunite Bob Odenkirk with Jonathan Banks, who played fixer Mike Ehrmantraut on the original series. The rest of the cast includes Michael McKean, Patrick Fabian, Rhea Seehorn, and Michael Mando.

"Better Call Saul" was originally slated to premiere in November; however, AMC decided to push its debut back to early 2015. Last month, AMC showed an early vote of confidence in the show and renewed it for a 13-episode second season before the first season even hit the air.

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The much-hyped Breaking Bad spinoff starring Bob Odenkirk arrives in 2015, but no word yet on whether fans will get another glimpse of Walter White

At long last, the slow trickle of new information about the Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul! finally turned into a stream on Friday night. Creators Vince Gilligan (who also served at Breaking Bad‘s showrunner) and Peter Gould answered questions about the upcoming AMC series at the Television Critics Association’s press tour. Coupled together with previous bits of information about the show, here’s what we now know about Better Call Saul:

WHO: Bob Odenkirk will reprise his role as shady attorney Saul Goodman, though when we first meet him, he’ll be known as Jimmy McGill (Better Call Jimmy doesn’t rhyme though). Jonathan Banks will also return as “fixer” Mike Erhmantraut. New cast members will include Michael McKean as Saul’s brother, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando and Rhea Seehorn. Here’s what Gould had to say about the possibility of Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) making an appearance: “These are all characters we love and with Gus there is so much more to say about that character, and we certainly love Giancarlo… Although in the series it always seemed to me that Saul didn’t know Gus directly. He knew a guy who knew a guy.”

The prospects of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) returning seem even iffier. “If it makes sense we’ll do it, if it doesn’t make sense we won’t,” Gilligan said. Basically, Gilligan and Gould made it clear that even though Better Call Saul! will occupy the same universe as Breaking Bad, the focus will shift in a very new direction.

WHAT: This is, by all accounts, the murkiest aspect of the series. We know it will revolve around Saul’s transformation from the small-time Jimmy McGill into Albuquerque’s most infamous criminal attorney.

WHEN: The show will take place in 2002 (Gilligan: “I hesitate to say it, but it is indeed a period piece”), approximately six years prior to the beginning ofBreaking Bad. The creators also confirmed that, likeBreaking Bad, Better Call Saul will have a non-linear timeline and flash both forward and back.

WHERE: Like Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul! will take place in Albuquerque.

WHY: Probably because Breaking Bad has been lauded as one of, if not the greatest, dramas in television history, and Saul was a fan favorite — not to mention ideally suited to a new show that will employ even more dark humor than its predecessor. This might also be a good place to mention thatBetter Call Saul! (which will have 10 episodes in its first season and 13 in its second) got bumped to 2015 because, as Gilligan explained, “I am slow as mud as a TV writer.”

HOW: One aspect of the spinoff that looks like it will represent a significant deviation from Breaking Badis its visual style. “We’re doing our damnedest to make it as different as possible. It’s important that this not look like a carbon copy of Breaking Bad,” Gilligan said. Though we may not get as many POV shots or looks at the expansive New Mexico desert, there will be a few Bad alums behind the camera forSaul‘s first few episodes, including Gilligan, Michelle MacLaren and Colin Bucksey.

There’s still no official premiere date for the series, but the recent deluge of information should only heighten fans excitement for a return to theBreaking Bad universe.

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Better clear your calendar: AMC has given Better Call Saul a debut date. On Feb. 8 at 10 p.m., the network will unveil the first episode of the Breaking Bad spin-off featuring Bob Odenkirk’s Saul Goodman, the not-so-virtuous lawyer employed by meth king Walter White (Bryan Cranston). The following night at 10 p.m., the second episode will be unspooled. Subsequent episodes will air in the show’s regular Mondays-at-10-p.m. slot.

Created and executive-produced by Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan and co-executive producer Peter Gould, the hour-long show will chronicle the exploits of James McGill—who would later take the name Saul Goodman—before he teamed up with Walt, starting in 2002. The cast also includes Breaking Bad vet Jonathan Banks, Michael McKean, Patrick Fabian, Rhea Seehorn, and Michael Mando.

Back in June, AMC announced that the 10-episode first season would launch in February, three months later than originally planned, and that it had already ordered a second season of Saul that is slated to hit the air in 2016.

Use one of your tingle fingers to press play on the video below and watch this just-released teaser: